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Climate Change Threatens Winter Olympics' Future
Warming temperatures and lack of reliable snowfall put the future of the Winter Games at risk.
Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:06am
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As climate change disrupts the snowy conditions needed to host the Winter Olympics, the future of this global event hangs in the balance, requiring innovative solutions to ensure its survival.Park City TodayThe Winter Olympics are facing an existential crisis due to the impacts of climate change. Warming temperatures and declining snowfall are making it increasingly difficult to host the Games, even with the use of resource-intensive artificial snowmaking. Fewer than 20 countries may have the right conditions and infrastructure to host the Winter Olympics by mid-century, with Europe expected to see the largest decline in viable locations. The Paralympics face an even bleaker future, with only 22 of the 93 potential host locations being climate-reliable in March. Experts suggest decoupling the Olympic and Paralympic Games or tackling climate change head-on as potential solutions, but the future of winter sports remains uncertain.
Why it matters
The Winter Olympics are a global symbol of unity and excellence in winter sports, but climate change is quietly dismantling the very foundation of this event. The declining viability of host locations and the resource-intensive nature of artificial snowmaking raise serious questions about the long-term sustainability of the Winter Games. This crisis extends beyond the Olympics, impacting international ski and snowboard competitions and the livelihoods of winter sports athletes.
The details
Just weeks before the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games, patches of bare ground marred the Bormio downhill ski course, forcing organizers to work overtime with snow machines to salvage the event. This is not an isolated incident, as the Rocky Mountains in Park City, Utah, the host of the 2034 Winter Olympics, also experienced their warmest winter on record with dismal early-season snowfall. By mid-century, fewer than 20 countries may have the right conditions and infrastructure to host the Winter Games, with Europe, the historical host, expected to see the largest decline in viable locations due to lower elevations and rising temperatures. The Paralympics face an even bleaker future, with only 22 of the 93 potential host locations being climate-reliable in March.
- In the 2022-2024 period, 33 International Ski and Snowboard Federation World Cup competitions were canceled due to lack of snow.
- By the 2050s, only four countries could host the Winter Olympics without relying on artificial snow.
- The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games will depend almost entirely on machine-made snow, with organizers building two reservoirs to store 76 million gallons of water for 125 snow guns.
The players
Bea Kim
A 19-year-old U.S. Olympic snowboarder who has lobbied on Capitol Hill for her sport's future, noting that snowboard half-pipe requires a lot of man-made snow and that as temperatures rise, opportunities for snowmaking are dwindling, putting the future of her sport at risk.
Daniel Scott
The author of a 2024 study that identified 93 potential host locations for the Winter Olympics, but found that under current emissions trends, only 52 will remain climate-reliable by the 2050s, and a mere 46 by the 2080s.
Erin Sprague
The CEO of Protect Our Winters, an organization that emphasizes that the real solution to the Winter Olympics crisis lies in tackling climate change head-on, and advocates for stricter emissions policies during the Games and ending sponsorships from fossil fuel companies.
What they’re saying
“Snowboard half-pipe requires a lot of man-made snow. As temperatures rise, opportunities for snowmaking are dwindling, putting the future of my sport at risk.”
— Bea Kim, U.S. Olympic snowboarder
“Quickly reducing global emissions would have the biggest impact.”
— Erin Sprague, CEO of Protect Our Winters
“Climate is something we have the solutions for. The Winter Olympics are in jeopardy, but they're also a symbol of unity the world desperately needs.”
— Bea Kim, U.S. Olympic snowboarder
What’s next
Experts suggest decoupling the Olympic and Paralympic Games, shifting both events to January or running them simultaneously, which could double the number of climate-reliable locations for the Paralympics by the 2050s. Additionally, quickly reducing global emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement goals could add eight more potential host locations by the 2080s.
The takeaway
The shrinking pool of viable Winter Olympics host locations is a wake-up call for the future of winter sports. Tackling climate change head-on, through stricter emissions policies and ending fossil fuel sponsorships, is crucial to ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Winter Games and preserving a symbol of global unity and excellence in winter sports.
